At least 69 people have been killed in two separate disasters in Cote d'Ivoire this week, with scores more reported injured or missing. The twin tragedies — one triggered by torrential rains and the other by a canoe capsize — have prompted widespread public concern and a government appeal for residents to heed safety directives.

Abidjan Floods and Landslides

Torrential rains that lashed the Abidjan district overnight from Sunday to Monday killed at least 59 people, according to Ivorian Minister of Communication and government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly, who made the announcement following a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday. The fatalities were caused by landslides, mudslides, and flooding across several neighbourhoods of the city.

The highest single-area death toll was recorded in the commune of Attecoube, west of Abidjan, where around 20 people lost their lives. Coulibaly noted that many of those killed had returned to sites from which they had previously been evacuated. 'In this commune, residents have unfortunately returned to sites from which they had previously been relocated,' he said.

The minister conveyed the government's condolences to bereaved families and urged all residents to comply with safety measures, including evacuating zones identified as high-risk by authorities.

Canoe Capsize in Grands-Ponts Region

In a separate incident, at least 10 people were killed and several others remain missing after a canoe carrying villagers capsized overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in the Grands-Ponts region of southern Cote d'Ivoire, according to a security source. The vessel overturned between Avikam Island and Liboli Village.

The passengers — including women and children — were reportedly returning to their village after purchasing cassava when the canoe suddenly stopped and overturned. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene and launched immediate search and recovery operations. Search efforts to locate those still missing were ongoing as of Wednesday.

Government Response and Safety Warning

Authorities have reiterated calls for residents in flood-prone and landslide-risk zones to follow official evacuation orders. The Attecoube tragedy underscores a recurring pattern: informal resettlement in hazard-prone areas continues to heighten casualty risk during the West African rainy season. This comes amid a period of intense seasonal rainfall across the region, which has historically claimed lives in low-lying and hillside settlements around Abidjan.

Search Operations Continue

Recovery teams remain active at both sites. Further details on the total number of missing persons and the full extent of property damage are awaited from Ivorian authorities. The dual disasters mark one of the deadliest weather-related weeks in Cote d'Ivoire in recent memory.